Ismael Carlo, a notorious slumlord is acquitted of the murder of Rosanna DeSoto's husband, a New York City Councilman. Later on evidence is found
that surely would have resulted in a conviction.
All that is most upsetting to DeSoto and her two sons who run a popular
florist shop Raymond Cruz and Mark Adair-Rios. They attend an adult learning
extension where Jessica Fletcher is a guest lecturer. The program is run out of
Father Robert Beltran's church.
As for Carlo, he's got a son also running a business that Carlo doesn't even approve of. But when he's given an exotic poison and dies at the church itself
there are lots of people for Detective Julius Carry to; sort through. Dan Ferro
is the miscreant son and he's a piece of work.
Even though Carlo is a bad guy, he's a rather tragic figure in this story.